time step
 

in fluent help, it says that the time step can be specified as you will,because it's method is steady. but i read some books, i feel the time step is relation to grid. why? thanks

Re: time step
 

There is a CFL number that constrain the time step. Generally speaking, the finer the grid is, the smaller the time step should be. Otherwise the solution may diverge. Furthurmore, there would be other constraint on time step concerning flow features. If you use RANS euqations, time step must be much more greater than the turbulent fluctuation time and smaller than the characteristic time of large scale.

Re: time step
 

I do not know about Fluent, but some codes calculate both the convective(cfl number) as well as diffusive (von-neumann number) time step and then use the minimum of the two. So the time step varies with each iteration.

Anup.

Re: time step
 

If one tries to obtain a steady solution by time marching, then there is no time-accuracy problem and the time step can be taken as big as allowable by solution stability.

If one simulates an unsteady flow, then Courant number is a good reference for choosing time step.